After three starts in its two-year-old season, Hitotsu was struggling for results.
Finishing 10th in last year's Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes and 6th in the Group 2 VRC Sires, something needed to change to get this talented horse where it needed to be.
Owners made the decision to move away from trainer Wendy Kelly after Hitotsu's first three starts, moving across to the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stables.
Since then, Hitotsu has been absolutely flying and heads into the upcoming G1 Australian Derby as the favourite with bookmakers.
Maher and Eustace have certainly taken their time with the colt, running it just four times since September 2021.
In its first start under a new trainer, Hitotsu broke its maiden as a $1.25 favourite at Donald. Hardly a Group-level race that it had been accustomed to during its two-year-old campaign, but eye-catching victory by almost two lengths.
From there, it was clear that Maher and Eustace knew he had a serious horse on his hands, but the champion trainer remained patient and waited another four weeks before its next run.
Hitotsu would go on to finish a gallant 5th in last year's G1 Caulfield Guineas, which was taken out by Anamoe - one of Australia's elite current horses. Maher and Eustace's galloper would finish 2.8 lengths behind the winner, but there was plenty to like about the run.
Three weeks later, Hitotsu would partake in the G1 Victoria Derby - a race with rich history and a long line of quality winners. Despite its obvious ability, it did raise eyebrows when Maher and Eustace decided to target the 2500m race just weeks after running over a mile.
But what do we know? Hitotsu would bolt in to win by 1.75 lengths for jockey John Allen, who has rode the colt on all three of its career victories to date.
Watch Hitotsu's victory in the G1 Victoria Derby below.
Hitotsu would have a lengthy spell after the breakthrough Group 1 win, coming back for a trial on February 7th before heading to the races in early-March.
Maher and Eustace would send one of their many champions to Flemington for the G1 Australian Guineas - taking it back to the 1600m trip, showing Hitotsu's versatility once again.
Hitotsu would finish a narrow winner ahead of Lightsaber and again, it was John Allen in the saddle, taking a rails run down the straight and securing a hard-fought win - its second Group 1 triumph.
Watch Hitotsu's win in the Group 1 Australian Guineas below.
With all eyes on Royal Randwick in these next two weeks of The Championships, Hitotsu is primed for another star-making performance in the G1 Australian Derby over 2400m.
It's another change in trip for Hitotsu, but if its early career under Maher and Eustace is anything to go by, it shouldn't be an issue.
If Hitotsu is able to secure a third-straight Group 1 victory in the Derby, in what will likely be his last race as a three-year-old, the world will become its oyster.
